A photograph shared by former minister Harin Fernando on social media on August 29, 2025, shows Ranil Wickremesinghe, apparently preparing to leave the hospital, holding a copy of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s memoir ‘Unleashed’. Photo: Special Arrangement
Former President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Friday (August 29, 2025) discharged from the Colombo National Hospital, where he was treated for nearly a week, following his arrest on August 22, 2025, for alleged misuse of public funds while in office.
The senior politician was rushed to the intensive care unit of Colombo’s best-known public hospital on August 23, after doctors said he was “severely dehydrated”, and advised close monitoring of his hypertension and diabetes condition. He was granted bail on August 26 on health grounds, amid sharp criticism from political opposition that termed the arrest an act of “political revenge” by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government.
“Mr. Wickremesinghe was sent home today [Friday] and he will be under medical supervision,” Ruwan Wijewardene,Deputy Leader of Mr. Wickremesinghe’s United National Party, told The Hindu on Friday (August 29, 2025) evening. Mr. Wickremesinghe is expected to make a statement this weekend.
The arrest of the former President and six-time Prime Minister drew both local and international media attention. It was the first time a former Head of State in Sri Lanka faced arrest. The case pertained to Mr. Wickremesinghe’s September 2023 visit to the United Kingdom, when a British University honoured his wife, a senior academic. Mr. Wickremesinghe’s office has denied the allegations that he used public funds for a private visit, and said he visited London while returning from Havana, where he attended the G77 summit, and New York, where he addressed the United Nations General Assembly.
While past presidents and several opposition members have condemned the arrest, the government has sought to justify the move, saying, “everyone is equal before the law”. Mr. Wickremesinghe’s arrest comes as part of the ruling administration’s ongoing anti-corruption drive, nearly a year after President Dissanayake rose to power on the promise of weeding out corruption. Over a dozen former ministers and top officials have been arrested in the last few months on charges of corruption and misappropriation.
Published – August 29, 2025 10:45 pm IST
